Markus Junianto Sihaloho – With the House of Representatives recently drawing public ire for a number of questionable big-ticket renovations, a budget watchdog is now accusing the State Palace of frivolously wasting taxpayers' money on unneeded building repairs.

According to the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra), the palace's renovation budget this year saw a more than threefold rise from 2011, increasing from Rp 3 billion ($330,000) to Rp 10.6 billion.

The large jump coincides with a Rp 58 billion plan to upgrade the State Secretariat's offices – located within the palace complex – over the next few years.

Fitra on Wednesday questioned some of the price tags attached to the renovations, including Rp 349 million to repair the rail guides for a retractable gate.

"This is excessive spending," Fitra coordinator Uchok Sky Khadafi said. "Imagine, it only requires Rp 119 million to build two classrooms for elementary schools. How many new classrooms could be built with the budget to fix the gate rail?"

Uchok said that the government should realize that revenues from taxes should not be used for he believes are insignificant purposes. "Otherwise, our people will cry that the government is inhumane, because they prioritize physical buildings over developing human resources."